‘In the summer I thought about trying to do something else’: PSG midfielder Julian Draxler admits he contemplated leaving French giants amid links with Leeds… but decided to stay and fight for his place under Thomas Tuchel
- Paris Saint-Germain’s Julian Draxler considered leaving the club this summer
- Draxler had been linked with a move to Leeds United and the Premier League
- However, he decided to stay in Paris to fight for a place in the Tuchel’s squad
Julian Draxler considered leaving Paris Saint-Germain this summer after being linked with a move to the Premier League.
Leeds United were among a host of club vying for the midfielder’s signature as Marcelo Bielsa looked to reinforce his squad ahead of their return to the English top-flight.
However, Draxler decided to stay in the French capital and fight for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Julian Draxler considered leaving the club this summer
The former Schalke player has one year remaining on his current contract with the Ligue 1 champions, and although he insists he has no intention of walking away from the Parc des Princes now, he did admit to contemplating a move earlier in the summer.
‘In the summer I thought about trying to do something else,’ Draxler told Bild.
‘Due to the coronavirus situation, it was ultimately difficult to find a club where I would have said: ‘Everything fits well together, I definitely want to [come here]’.
‘That was not the case, so I decided that I would not dare to take a quick shot and keep looking for my chance at Paris.’
When asked if he considered taking a pay cut to see a deal transpire, Draxler said: ‘Definitely. The top priority is not to sign a contract with the same salary. The overall package just has to be right.
Draxler had been linked with a move the Premier League and specifically Leeds United
However, Draxler decided to stay in Paris to fight for a place in the Thomas Tuchel’s squad
‘That I can imagine playing in the club, that good football is played there and that I play an important role – that would be the great sense of a change at this point, one year before the European Championship.
‘Next year, things will look easier when I’m free, and another club doesn’t have to negotiate a transfer with Paris.’
PSG sporting director Leonardo will be keen to strike a deal with one of Draxler’s potential suitors to avoid losing the 27-year-old for free next year.
The Ligue 1 club will also look to earn back £38million they spent on him in 2017 to help offset the financial ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic.
Reflecting on last season, Draxler claims their campaign was as a ‘season to forget’ on a personal level, and although Tuchel had previously stated Draxler would not be involved in his plans, he feels confident he can cement himself in his team.
He told Bild: ‘Last season didn’t go well at all.
‘Not on a sporting level and also due to my injuries, then the season ended due to coronavirus. It was definitely a season to forget for me.’
‘I had a good conversation with Thomas Tuchel. I felt then that I still had the chance to be deployed and that I was definitely not written off.’